The DRCC Public Advisory Council hosted US colleagues who provided a presentation on the progress of sediment remediation efforts on the American side of the Detroit River. The presentation highlighted the projects American partners are tackling to improve sediment quality, which improves overall ecosystem health of the river system.
In 2012, a comprehensive study took place by multiple partners where data was compiled relating to known contaminants at 65 locations in the Detroit River. The study analyzed the quantity of contaminants at these sites. This project provided a basis for the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environment,Great Lakes and Energy to create a prioritized list of remediation projects.
The estimated total quantity of sediment that needs to be remediated from the U.S side of the Detroit River is approximately 6,673,338yd3. Generally where sediments were present in the nearshore, they were contaminated and were highest near historical industrial and municipal outfalls. Some of the remediation work has begun, but partners and funding opportunities need to be identified for large scale remediation to occur.
To find out more, see these news articles:
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2019/10/detroit-river-restoration-progress-remediation-epa/
https://blackburnnews.com/windsor/windsor-news/2019/10/15/cleaning-u-s-side-detroit-river-cost-billions-take-decades/
The DRCC is attending the Great Lakes Restoration Celebration, hosted by the Alliance of Rouge Communities and held at The Henry Ford in Dearborn on October 18, 2019. As part of this celebration, a book was created showcasing the organizations contributing to Great Lakes Restoration in Southeast Michigan and some of their restoration projects. The DRCC and our projects are featured in the book, and a copy can be downloaded from here.
If you are interested in attending the event on October 18, a link to the map, agenda, and registration can be found here. The event is free of charge.
Windsor, ON – Join the Public Advisory Council of the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup as they host U.S. colleagues who will provide a presentation on the progress of sediment remediation efforts on the American side of the Detroit River. The upcoming presentation will highlight the projects American partners are tackling to improve sediment quality, which improves overall ecosystem health of the river system. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 from 12:30 to 1:15 pm at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER) Conference Room 250 at the University of Windsor.
“Our American colleagues are coming to discuss the various sites and Superfund sites they plan to cleanup from Harbourtown upstream to the Gibraltar Canals downstream,” said Tom Henderson, Chair of the Public Advisory Council of the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup. “This is a very exciting time in the Detroit River’s history, to be able to see the contamination from the past be cleaned up, resulting in a cleaner river.”
This presentation is free and the public is invited to attend. Please RSVP by contacting postmaster@detroitriver.ca.
The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup implements the Remedial Action Plan on behalf of a community-based partnership working together to protect, restore and enhance the Detroit River ecosystem.
Contact
Jacqueline Serran
Detroit River Remedial Action Plan Coordinator
311-360 Fairview Avenue West
Essex Ontario, N8M 1Y6
Phone: 519-776-5209 ext. 356
postmaster@detroitriver.ca
